The Medieval Combat Simulator of My Dreams: My First Game of 2025 – Free to Try

A few days into 2025, while many folks were celebrating with fireworks and toasting to new beginnings, I found myself in front of my PC, utterly captivated by a game that might just have become my new favorite: Half Sword. Originally teased with an early demo back in October 2023, it received a significant update with a polished free-to-play playtest release last September—a discovery I made during my holiday downtime.

Half Sword is essentially a physics-driven medieval combat simulator with intuitive, freeform controls. It’s not about button mashing for attacks or blocks; instead, your moves are all about precise directional mouse gestures, while certain actions like thrusts and kicks have dedicated buttons. What sets this game apart from others in the genre, like Mordhau and Chivalry 2, is this focus on realistic mechanics, which immediately caught my attention when I came across the playtest version.

Adding to its authenticity are highly accurate depictions of 15th Century weaponry and armor, alongside the inclusion of a rare technique—half-swording. By holding down the right mouse button, you grip the blade of your sword with your left hand, reducing your reach but increasing leverage and control. This allows you to better defend against thrusts from longer weapons, like spears, while closing the gap with opponents, and it’s particularly effective when grappling with those clad in plate armor.

Although at first glance the characters might seem reminiscent of the comically awkward movements in the ever-popular Totally Accurate Battle Simulator, there’s an impressive depth once you dive into the gameplay. Each weapon matchup requires strategic thinking—you must weigh your advantages and compensation tactics. For instance, if you’re wielding a halberd against someone with a sword and shield, exploiting your superior reach can be key. However, letting them close in means you’ll need to adapt quickly to maintain the upper hand.

Armor adds another layer of complexity, with the necessity to target exposed areas to swiftly end confrontations. Direct hits against armor usually fall short, but a strong blow to an enemy’s helmet with a heavy weapon might render them unconscious. Alternatively, aggressive grappling with kicks and the half-sword technique can incapacitate a heavily armored opponent, especially if you manage to knock them down and follow up with decisive strikes and kicks.

In its current playtest, Half Sword primarily offers one-on-one duels against AI opponents equipped with random weapons. There are additional scenarios available too, including team-based, free-for-all, and one-versus-all challenges where certain weapons and tactics truly excel. For example, half-swording is especially beneficial in the 1v4 “Brave Stand” mode, offering the leverage needed for both offense and defense simultaneously. Maces come in handy in the 3v3 “Small Buhurt” rounds, ideal for capitalizing on openings when foes are distracted by allies.

It must be said, however, that the game isn’t without its flaws. A friend who practices Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) noted some missing techniques in the combat system, and the quirky character movement can make footwork feel less assured. Additionally, the AI occasionally misjudges distances, making them vulnerable to straightforward attacks.

Despite these imperfections, Half Sword has been immensely enjoyable, especially for someone like me who’s long been intrigued by HEMA and has been on the lookout for a game like this. Its presentation certainly adds to the excitement, with realistic depictions of blood and sound effects that capture the raw intensity of medieval melee. While it may not boast the most groundbreaking visuals, for an indie title, it holds its own.

Expected to fully launch in 2025, it’s still uncertain how the developers plan to enhance it or introduce requested features like multiplayer PvP and character customization. I personally hope for a console release, given it already supports controllers. But even now, Half Sword stands as one of the most promising new PC games. The playtest is free and doesn’t demand much storage, so why not give it a shot?